Enough Of The Drama (2 page)

China

   China sat on her living room floor hugging her knees to her chest. She stared at the contents on her end table. If she could only find the courage to be rid of that white powdery substance that clasped her soul and refused to let go. Her throat was dry, and her skin was drenched with sweat. She slowly rocked back and forth humming to herself.

   Each time she promised herself the last fix was her last, but she was fighting a losing battle. She couldn’t shake the monkey that clung to her back. Her body had become dependent on that poisonous substance that decorated her end table. She could barely go a day without it running through her veins or putting it up her nose. It has become a part of her everyday living. She knew she was a flat out fiend as she crawled to the end table. Her hands shook violently as she inhaled deeply, feeding her desire.

   Within seconds she felt like she was floating on cloud nine. This felt like an ‘out of body’ experience. She was no longer sitting home alone on her living room floor. She went back to a place where she wished she could stay forever. To a place where she was happy, a time when she felt nothing in her life could go wrong, when the love of her life Dre, was still alive.

   Dre was her everything. The air she breathed, the blood that circulated her veins, the beat to her heart; he was the love of her life. They first met when Dre was in college. They were complete opposites. Dre was a schoolboy majoring in business management, with good grades. He was well-mannered and clean cut with a promising future. China on the other hand was a wild child; she barely went to school, had the mouth of a sailor and at a young age started using drugs. Her parents had given up on her. Her mother was at her wits end and was two seconds from kicking her out on her ass. They thought she was destined for failure; that is until she met Dre.

  
China, and her friend Nene were at Morgan State’s Homecoming. They had no business being there barely seventeen but neither one of them were fazed; they always managed to sneak their young asses into twenty-one and over clubs anyway. China was decked out in hip hugging Capris that outlined her well-developed curves and a cherry red halter top that showed off her flat midsection. China was definitely eye candy with her caramel colored skin, oval face and hazel slanted eyes. Her shoulder length hair was styled in a wrap, with neatly trimmed bangs.

   “You drinking tonight?” Nene asked popping her gum in China’s ear.

   “Yes,” China replied visibly annoyed with Nene’s childish antics. They walked through the crowd in search of alcohol.

   “Damn ma, you wearing the hell out of them jeans,” a hopeful said looking to get lucky as he eyed China’s ample bottom.

   “Thanks,” China said casually over her shoulder and kept it moving. He wasn’t her type. He was cute but she could tell he was trying to stunt, because the huge ear ring he rocked in his right ear was cubic zirconia, but he was trying to pass it off as a diamond. That was a turn off for her anyway. She thought a man with pierced ears was unattractive.

   After getting their drinks China and Nene found a vacant spot on the wall and posted up and did what teenagers do, talk about people. While cracking up after Nene peeped out a chick whose heels were leaning on Jesus, China got the sense someone was watching her. She momentarily took her eyes off sistah girl and scanned the crowded dance floor until her eyes finally connected with his. That’s when she saw him, the love of her life. He was out on the dance floor with some rhythm-inclined chick, but she could feel his eyes were focused solely on her. He was a deep chocolate brother, with a bald head, and there was nothing China liked more than a bald head.

   China cocked her head to the side and held her drink acknowledging him. She then boldly walked over to where he was and rudely interrupted his current dance session. Dre immediately dissed his rhythm inclined dance partner and started grinding with China to R. Kelly’s “Honey Love.” There was no way he was going to miss this train ride. What he did by dissing that girl was out of character for him but it was something about this girl that had him hypnotized.

   “So what’s your name?” Dre asked, his lips touching her ear sending a chill down her spine.

   “China, and yours?” she asked, looking over her shoulder and smiling up at him.

   Her smile instantly captivated his heart. “De’Andre, but everybody calls me Dre, but you can call me whatever you want baby.”

   China shook her head and laughed at his weak pick up line. They danced together the entire night. They talked and laughed as if they were old friends and have known each other for years. China felt absolutely free in Dre’s presence and he felt the same. China gazed at him wantonly, as she held onto his every word. While they were together it was as if no one else existed. It was just him and her. As she peered into his eyes she knew she’d found her soul mate.

   “Where are you from?” Dre asked as they stood outside enjoying the slight breeze that danced across his skin.

   “The boring town of Preston.”

   He looked at her. “Oh ok, you’re not that far from home. So you must go to school around here?”

   “No.”

   “Oh really? What you have friends over this way?”

   “You can say that?”

   Dre looked at her suspiciously. “How old are you?”

   “Seventeen,” China replied with hesitation. If it were anyone else she would have lied with no problem and said eighteen, but for some reason with Dre she couldn’t.

   Dre nearly choked on his drink. “Repeat that?” he said wiping off his shirt.

   “Seventeen,” China said without skipping a beat.

   “Damn, you trying to get a nigga locked up. For real!” he said shaking his head. He had no idea she was just seventeen.  He took in her curves and quickly downed the rest of his drink.

   “Age ain’t nothin’ but a number,” China said folding her arms across her chest.

   He smiled, he liked her sassiness. “I like you though. You’re cool I could see myself chilling with you. It’s a shame,” he said shaking his head while rubbing his chin. “Jail bait.”

   “And your point?” she said rolling her neck getting an attitude. She was feeling Dre. She would hate if he allowed her age get in the way of them getting to know each other a little better. “How old are you?”

   “Twenty.”

   She cocked her head sideways and eyed him slowly from the top of his head down to his fresh butter timberland boots. “Kiss me,” she whispered. Since she laid eyes on him she wanted to taste his full juicy lips. Every time he licked them she felt her clit jump.

   “What!”

   “You heard me,” she said boldly taking a couple of steps towards him, purposely invading his personal space. They were standing directly in front of each other, their faces only inches apart. “Kiss me.”

   As much as he tried to fight his urge to do so, Dre simply couldn’t deny her request. He needed to taste her pouty and sensual lips. China grabbed his face and pressed her lips to his. Sparks begin to fly and Keith Sweats “Make it Last Forever” started playing in the back of Dre’s mind. Dre couldn’t resist, as he took control and seized the opportunity to entangle China in his secure and warm embrace. He gently stroked her back and ran his fingers through her hair.

   “Oh, wow,” China said pulling away attempting to catch her breath. She cleared her throat, still trying to take in the passionate kiss she just shared with Dre. No one has ever kissed her like that. You couldn’t tell her it wasn’t the Fourth of July. Her young pussy was throbbing and begging to be touched.

   “That bad?” Dre asked.

   “No the complete opposite.”

   He smiled making her insides melt. They stood awkwardly gazing at each other. He was just about to kiss her again, but they were rudely interrupted.

   Fed up with watching China and Dre, Nene rudely made her presence known. “Damn bitch, where the fuck you been? I’ve been looking for your black ass all night. We have to bounce Bee Bop is about to leave us,” she said clearly jealous. Nene, China’s ride or die friend since grade school was a beautiful young bombshell also. Light skin with soft brown eyes and a banging body to match. She was jealous of China, because whenever they were out China’s exotic features always seem to outshine hers and Nene couldn’t stand it.

   China rolled her eye,s mad because Nene interrupted what was about to be another intimate moment between her and Dre. She wasn’t quite ready for the night to end. “Well I guess this is good-bye,” she said sadly.

   “Not good bye. More like see you later. Let me get your number if you don’t mind?”

   “999-2188.”

   “Okay,” he said saving the number in his cell phone. “I won’t call after nine.”

   “Ha! Ha! Real funny,” she laughed playfully punching him in the arm. “Give me a hug,” she demanded.

   Dre did as he was told. China savored the security of his arms. “I’m a call you a’ight,” he said kissing her on the forehead.

   “A’ight,” she said reluctantly releasing him, not ready to leave his embrace.

   “Come on let’s go hoe,” Nene said on the verge of throwing up.

   Meeting Dre was the best thing that could have happened to China. He made a huge impact on her life, making her change her wild ways. He didn’t tolerate drugs of any kind and stressed the importance of an education, instilling in her that having an education is the one thing in this world no one could ever take away from you. His encouraging words were a changing point. She started taking her education more seriously and she graduated with a 3.5 GPA. Her parents loved Dre despite the age difference; they knew Dre had China’s best interest at heart.

   With Dre in her life, things changed for the better. She and her parent’s bond grew stronger than ever and they were closer than they’d ever been in years. Dre was like a breath of fresh air. He was a boost to her self-esteem and she finally felt she had a purpose in life.

   Graduation night she and Dre made love for the first time. He patiently waited until she was of legal age before taking her body completely. He was surprised that she was still a virgin but he never told China. It was a mind blowing experience for both; it was everything China imagined it would be. Dre was gentle, compassionate and understanding.

   Their time together was like a fairytale. After China graduated from high school Dre graduated not too long after with a degree in business management. Not too long after graduating he landed a job in management at a local Hyatt, while China worked as a Medical Assistant for a local doctor’s office. Dre purchased a little town home for them in the small quaint town of St. Michaels., MD. China was in the process of going back to school to pursue her degree as a RN, but all her dreams and motivation died when Dre died including her passion of recording a music CD.

   China lay on her living room floor; her high had come down and she was bought back to her painful reality. She continued to lie in the middle of the floor and cry like a baby. She couldn’t stand to be in this empty house with so many memories. She wiped her nose as she sat up and snorted another line of coke. She needed a glimpse back into her past, even if it is just for a few minutes of happiness.

Chapter 1

   “Ouch, shit,” Cassidy yelped as hot bacon grease burned her skin. She got up early in the morning and prepared
her man
some breakfast. Last night she felt things had gotten a little out of hand. She wanted things to work with Marcus. She wanted this to be a peace offering, so she bit the bullet and decided to
apologize.

   It was the beginning of the new-year and she just wanted to start things off right. She wanted to save what was left of her marriage. Marcus had her heart and he knew it. She couldn’t begin to imagine what her life would be like without him; at all cost she was willing to keep her family together even if she was sacrificing her own happiness and self-respect.

   “Good morning babe,” she sang as soon as Marcus entered the kitchen.

   “Hey,” he grumbled, still feeling the after affects from his night with Ciara. He pulled out a chair and sat down. Despite the fatigue that was plaguing his body he was looking forward to his day. If everything went according as planned, he and Ciara could possibly start their future together.

   “After the way I acted last night I thought you deserved a nice breakfast. Hope you enjoy. I even made your favorite, Belgian Waffles,” Cassidy said, setting a plate full of food down in front of him. Cassidy watched as Marcus dug into his food full force. She bit her bottom lip and stood behind him. She hesitantly placed her hands on his shoulders. When he didn’t reject her touch she began to massage them. “Look babe, I just want to apologize for overreacting last night. I understand that you work hard at times and you need to relieve some stress. I just get worried when you don’t call, that’s all.”

   “Can you get me some salt?”

   Cassidy sighed and went to the cupboard; she grabbed the salt and placed on the table for her husband.

   “Thanks.”

   “Marcus, did you hear what I said?”

   “I heard you,” he said nonchalantly, disinterested in any apology she may have to offer. In his mind it was too little too late.

   “Do you want to go out on a dinner date?”

   “Sure,” Marcus said half listening. He didn’t realize how hungry he was. Cassidy had obviously put her foot in this breakfast. One thing he could say for sure he would definitely going to miss her cooking.

   “Dammit Marcus!” Cassidy stomped her foot in frustration.  “Can’t you see I’m trying here,” she sniffled, and wiped her eyes to keep the tears from falling. She got down on her knees and placed her hands on his knee. “Marcus, it’s clear things have changed between us and I just want us to start over. We’ve been together for too long just to throw it all away now. I already asked Mommy to keep Junior, so can you please at least meet me half way with this? I need to know that you are just as much in this as I am.”

   “Okay make reservations or whatever,” he said waving his hand in the air. “Call me and let me know the details,” he said standing up and gulping down a few more spoonfuls of food.

   Cassidy stood up with a huge smile on her face. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her heart. She didn’t want to be in the race to save her marriage alone.

   “You promise Marcus?”

   “Yes,” he said giving her a quick peck on the cheek. “I have to go,” he said glancing at the Rolex that decorated his wrist. “I’m going to be late.”

   “Okay babe. I love you.”

   “Yeah me too,” Marcus hollered over his shoulder before slamming the door shut.

   Cassidy stared at the door and sadly shook her head.
He never tells me he loves me anymore
, she thought to herself.

   After dropping Little Marcus off at school, Cassidy spent the entire day preparing for her evening with Marcus. She went to the spa and received a soothing massage, after that she got her hair and nails done followed by a nice bikini wax.

   She figured Marcus would want to keep it local tonight since it was a week day, so she made reservations at the Rustic Inn, a nice fine dining restaurant. She prayed everything went smoothly tonight, she felt this could be a huge turning point in their marriage. Over the years they have drifted apart and their sex life was
blah
. She hoped Marcus wouldn’t deny her tonight. He has been denying her for the past two months.

   Once she arrived back home she wrapped her hair and ran herself a nice hot bath. The sweet scent of milk and honey bath teased her nostrils. She eased down into the warm water and closed her eyes, allowing this moment of relaxation to ease her mind and wash away any doubts about tonight that lingered in her mind.

   She slowly began to lather her body, daydreaming about Marcus and the things she wanted to do after their romantic dinner, and a few glasses of wine. She pretended it was Marcus’ tongue caressing her nipples instead of her own fingertips.

   “Hmmm,” she moaned as she worked her way down and placed two fingers inside of her tight pussy. “Shit,” she whispered as she gently stroked her walls. Water splashed out of the tub and onto the red plush rug. She aggressively fucked her own pussy, her eyes rolling in the back of her head. “Marcus,” she squealed as she brought herself to a powerful climax. She shuttered in agony, it was time to feel the real thing.

*    *   *

   Cassidy checked the time on her watch. It was quarter past nine, and Marcus was a no show. She specifically told him eight o’ clock sharp. She picked up her cell phone from the table and dialed his number again, and just like before she was sent straight to his voicemail. Cassidy decided to remain optimistic hoping that he was tied up at work and couldn’t get away to call.

   “Hey sweetie it’s me, just wanted to let you know that I’m still at the restaurant patiently waiting on you. I know you’re probably at work and running a little late, just give me a call please,” she said her voice slightly cracking.

   She hung up the phone and fanned herself with the menu to keep from crying. “He can’t do this to me,” she said out loud. After all the effort she’d put into this night. She made special reservations, so they could be set apart from the other guest to give them some private time. That was one good thing about being in the private back room; no one could see her sitting alone with a pitiful look on her face.

   Candles were lit and she was decked out in her skin tight Versace dress. It fit her thick, yet curvaceous frame just right. The entire look was definitely something new for her. She had her hair straightened, and she even added some highlights. She went all out by wearing a pair of black thongs, which she now regrets because they were stuck way deep in the crack of her ass.

   “Are you ready to order?” the young blonde waitress asked, interrupting her thoughts.

   Cassidy shook her head no. “My husband just called, he’s sick and won’t be able to make it,” she lied. “I think it’s something going around.”  The waitress simply nodded. “Thank you,” Cassidy said paying the bill and grabbing her coat and standing up.

   With her head held high she sauntered out of the restaurant. Heavy raindrops poured down from the sky while, huge tears fell from her eyes. The rain solidified her somber mood. She didn’t even bother to cover her hair as she walked to the car. She did it all for nothing.

   “What the hell am I doing wrong?” she asked herself as she sat in her Mercedes Benz. “I’m the perfect wife. I cook, I clean, and I take care of the household. What else could he possibly ask for? What the hell else does he want from me?”

   She whipped out her cell phone and dialed her husband’s number again, and again she was directed to voicemail. She threw her phone in frustration. It hit her window with so much force it cracked, just like her heart.

   Marcus was still MIA when she got home. She dragged herself out of the car and somehow managed to make it into the house. She walked directly upstairs and plopped down on her bed, wet clothes and all curling her body tight into the fetal position. She reached over and grabbed Marcus’ pillow and tightly hugged it to her chest, savoring the sweet smell of his cologne. The sight alone she knew had to be pitiful. Tears leaked from her eyes as she held the pillow tightly wishing that it would somehow magically turn into her husband.

   She knew the marriage was over but she still wasn’t ready to face that reality.